Asia PR News

BALTIMORE, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ –

New Study Shows Expanded Use of FC2 Could Prevent Thousands of HIV
Infections and Save Millions of Dollars in Health Care Costs Annually
in South Africa and Brazil Alone

Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D., President and COO of the Chicago-based Female
Health Company (FHC), announced today that FHC has developed the
second-generation FC2 Female Condom(TM) for the non U.S. market, which will be
made available to developing countries at significantly reduced pricing when
purchased in large volumes. FC2, made of nitrile, a synthetic material, looks
and performs in a statistically similar manner to FHC’s FC Female Condom(TM)
(FC1) the only FDA approved female-initiated barrier device that is intended
for women to protect themselves from HIV, other STDs and unintended pregnancies.

Leeper made the announcement at a summit meeting on the use and
availability of the product class of female condom where she also challenged
the global public sector to form a collective to ensure that FC2 was available
at the lowest possible price.

Leeper also presented top line findings of a study done by Dr. David
Holtgrave, Chair of the Department of Health, Behavior and Society, and his
colleagues, at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins
University. The study, which focused only on Brazil and South Africa, assumed
three levels of use of FC2. At even low levels of use, the model predicted
that more than 2,000 HIV infections would be prevented and about $1.4 million
in health care costs saved in one year. At high levels of use, the model
indicated that FC2 could prevent as many as 32,000 HIV infections, saving as
much as $66.9 million in HIV-related health care costs in one year. The full
study is being submitted for publication later this year.

"Changes in the material for FC2 permits use of a manufacturing process
that results in reduced cost as volume increases. This offers the Female Health
Company the opportunity to dramatically lower the price of FC2," Leeper said.
Currently, FC1 sells for 72 cents per unit. Because of the manufacturing
process, the price of FC1 does not change significantly even when purchased in
large volumes. This is due to the fact that the cost associated with the
current process isn’t as sensitive to volume.

"The price of FC1 has meant that some HIV prevention programs cannot
incorporate FC1 fully into a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy," Leeper
said. "But in large volumes that are equal to only about 3% of the estimated
male condom market, FC2 can be made available for as little as 22 cents per
unit, dramatically improving its affordability."

"This is excellent news," said Zena Stein, Professor Emerita at Columbia
University’s Mailman School of Public Health and Co-Director of the HIV Center
for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, at the New York State Psychiatric
Institute. "The biggest barrier to more widespread use of the female condom
has been the price. Now that the price has been cut, potentially by
two-thirds, we must distribute the FC2 Female Condom as rapidly as possible.
This is a very real advance for women around the world."

"The Female Health Company is committed to empowering women in the
developing world by ensuring they have access to FC2, one of the most cost-
effective ways to dramatically lower HIV infection rates for women," said
Leeper. "Worldwide, women account for an increasing proportion of new HIV
infections. In sub-Saharan Africa, 60% of those living with HIV are women.
Sadly, they are three times more likely to be infected with HIV than their male
counterparts."

Last year, it is estimated that 6-9 billion male condoms were made
available by the global public sector to help reduce the risk of HIV
transmission. Leeper challenged the global public health sector to do more to
ensure that women can protect themselves from HIV infection.

"The global public health sector must increase distribution of the female
condom from last year’s volume of 12 million to at least 180 million, which is
still only 3% of the number of male condoms made available by the global public
health sector throughout the world annually," said Jodi Jacobson, executive
director of the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE). "There are no
excuses for keeping this female-initiated method of HIV protection from women
who desperately need it. Women around the world are increasingly becoming HIV
infected. The tools they need to protect themselves must be put in their hands
today."

Media Contacts:
Michael Cover (US, Africa and Asia) Alison Miles (Europe)
202-729-4199 44 207 534 7243
Michael.Cover@ogilvypr.com alison.miles@toniq.co.uk

Company investors: William R. Gargiulo, Jr.
231-526-1244

Business/Product: Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D.
312-595-9118

About FHC
The Female Health Company, based in Chicago, owns certain worldwide rights
to FC Female Condom(TM) including patents which have been issued in the United
States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, The People’s
Republic of China, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia. FC Female
Condom(TM) is the only available product controlled by a woman that is intended
to protect against sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS and
unintended pregnancy.

For more information about the Female Health Company, dial toll-free via
fax, 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter company code "FHCO". Also, visit the Company’s
web site at http://www.femalehealth.com and http://www.femalecondom.org. If
you would like to be added to an e-mail alert list, please send an e-mail to
FHCInvestor@aol.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement
The statements in this press release which are not historical fact are
forward-looking statements based upon the Company’s current plan and
strategies, and reflect the Company’s current assessment of the risks and
uncertainties related to its business, including such things as product demand
and market acceptance; the economic and business environment and the impact of
government pressures; currency risks; capacity; efficiency and supply
constraints; and other risks detailed in the Company’s press releases,
shareholder communication and Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Actual events affecting the Company and the impact of such events on the
Company’s operations may vary from those currently anticipated.

SOURCE: Female Health Company

CONTACT: Michael Cover +1-202-729-4199
cell: +1-202-277-5692, Michael.Cover@ogilvypr.com

Alison Miles 44-207-534-7243
cell: ++ 07900-691116, alison.miles@toniq.co.uk

both for Female Health Company;

Company investors: William R. Gargiulo, Jr.
of Female Health Company +1-231-526-1244

Business-Product: Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D.
of Female Health Company +1-312-595-9118

Web site: http://www.femalehealth.com
http://www.femalecondom.org